World's largest religious festival

February 13, 2013 |compiled from wire photos

The Kumbh Mela in the town of Allahabad will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over 55 days to take a ritual bath in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings.

SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images

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An Indian sadhu - holy man - takes a 'holy dip' at the 'Sangam', the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on January 31, 2013. The Kumbh Mela in the town of Allahabad will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over 55 days to take a ritual bath in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings.

SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images

36of51

An Indian sadhu - holy man - takes a 'holy dip' at the 'Sangam', the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on January 31, 2013. The Kumbh Mela in the town of Allahabad will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over 55 days to take a ritual bath in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings.